Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in Aboriginal Lepers the Derby Survey

The total Aboriginal population of 168 patients aged 16 years and over In the Derby Leprosarium was investigated to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Sixteen per cent of the men and 19% of the women had a glucose tolerance test result diagnostic of diabetes. The diabetic subjects were significantly older and more obese than the normal subjects. During a three-year period prior to diagnosis, diabetics were becoming more obese at a rate three times that of normal subjects.